WOYWW 277

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's hump day, midweek, top of the hill....however you look at Wednesdays.  For many of us, Wednesday is synonymous with WOYWW -- a fun internet experience in voyeurism!  This is all courtesy of the wonderful Julia at Stamping Ground.  Pop and over and have a look see.

Here's how I left my desk last night:

Not overly messy, as you can see some actual desk surface, but still messier than I like.  I had an order for a couple of 2015 desk calendars that had to be made up so I could ship them today.  Over on the right there are a couple of sample Ghirardelli candy holders that I experimented with for an upcoming video.  Just off center to the left there's a bit of folded designer paper that's waiting to be turned into another candy holder for another video.  This ones holds those "big bags" of Skittles (one on each side) and other similarly sized tempting treats that magically appear in every store at this time of year leading up to Halloween.  One would think I live for trick-or-treaters with all the candy holders, but in reality I'm Ms. Grumpy anymore and leave my light off and discourage the little ghouls.  It's easier on the dogs...and me.  :)

Be sure you go visit Stamping Ground and some of the other fine folks who are participating in WOYWW today.  It'll be fun!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

Creative Blog Hop

Happy Monday Everyone!

I'm excited to be participating today in the Creative Blog Hop.  I'm not exactly sure where it first started, but many of my friends in the Kraafters Kommunity on Google + are participating, and that's how I got involved.  I was invited by Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith of Inky Dinky Doodle.  Zsuzsa lives in Gloucestershire UK and creates some really lovely mixed media projects.  Be sure you hop over and visit her blog.

The purpose of this blog hop is to introduce folks to different artists and crafters and get to know one another through four simple questions.  We keep the hop rolling by inviting two other bloggers to participate the week after us.

1.  What are you working on at the moment?
Presently, I have little Christmas images all over my craft desk that I'm coloring with a variety of tools -- Copic Markers, water color pencils, Stampin' Up inks and markers, and more.  I just love this stamp set from Paper Trey Ink called Tremendous Treats:  Christmas.  I love line art images and I love coloring, so it's a perfect match for me.  I plan to make these into simple cards and tags and hopefully use some of the shaving cream background papers I recently created.

I'm also prepping for craft markets in October, November and December.  In addition to my paper crafts, I also make jewelry.  I've been beefing up on my bracelet and earrings offerings.

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I honestly can't say that it does.  I take inspiration from my peers and things I find on the internet.  I like to CASE projects (copy and share everything).  Occasionally I come up with something new on my own, but why always try to reinvent the wheel?  I do find that I will change colors to suit my personal taste a lot and to utilize what I have on hand.  But I have no shame in admitting that I draw most of my inspiration from others.  Thank you, World!

3.  Why do you create?
In a word, it's FUN!  I've always been kind of crafty.  I used to be big into cross stitch and plastic canvas.  I dabble in crochet.  I loved art class in school.  As long as I can remember, my mother has been painting something or other.  She is an extremely talented oil painter who also happens to make beautiful seed bead jewelry.  I'm certain my love of and eye for color comes from years of watching her paint and being asked, "Does this look ok?"  Thanks, Mom!

4.  How does your creative or writing process work?
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I am a big time CASE crafter.  I draw inspiration from other projects and ideas that I see.  I might see a technique that intrigues me, but not be tickled by the colors or materials.  So I'll take that and put my personal spin and style on it.  With my jewelry making, I'm definitely inspired by the materials at hand.....colors, sparkle, shine....oh yeah, let's just confess, I love the bling!  I love crafting and I'm trying to get back to doing that just for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Introducing the next Blog Hoppers!

 I have invited two more bloggers to continue the fun  Let me introduce you to them.

Julia Dunnit of Stamping Ground.  Many of you are already familiar with Julia because of the weekly Wednesday fun she hosts called WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday).  We get to take a weekly spin around the globe to look at other creative folks' desks.  Julia hales from Ludgershall, Wiltshire in the UK.  Her lovely craft desk looks out into her garden, which I envy.  She does some really lovely paper crafting and I know you will enjoy her blog.

Michelle Knapp of Failing Perfect.  Michelle is a member of the Kraafter Kommunity and a really wonderful paper craft artist.  Wait until you see her three adorable boys!  I totally fell in love with this awesome bird image she blinged up with buttons and beads.  Awesome!

Please be sure to visit both of these lovely ladies next Monday as they take on the task of keeping the Creative Blog Hop going.

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

YouTube, here I come! / WOYWW 276

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's time to do some desk hopping, courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground.  If you haven't participated before, be sure to pop over to Julia's blog.  We have fun every week popping around for a looksee at other creative folks' desks.  Give it a try!

Not a lot going on here right now.  What you see are some of the remnants at my first stab at making a video for my teeny weeny YouTube channel.  I've done "videos" before, but they were the still photo variety.  This is my first one actually filming work in progress with an actual video camera.  I did a quick tutorial on the Triple Time or Triple Layer stamping technique, complete with bloopers left in!  :)

The card top right is the one made in the video.  The others are samples that I showed at the end of the video.

I think my next video attempt will be to show how to make cool "marbled" backgrounds with the shaving cream technique.  Could be interesting .... lots of opportunities for bloopers while doing that!

If you'd like to see my little video debut, here you go!  If you choose to like and subscribe to my channel, I surely will appreciate that!




Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

Kaards by Kraafters

Happy Friday Everyone!

I hope you all are preparing to have a fabulous weekend.  Here in south Texas, we are waiting on the cold front to make it to us.  I know some folks "up north" have seen snow, rain, and unseasonably chilly temperatures.  As usual, we've been hot and steamy this week.  Today as the cold front approaches, it has been cloudy with rain in the area.  At least with the clouds, my air conditioner hasn't had to work overtime today.  Yesterday was a different story, with a heat index around 107.  This weekend we're expecting temps "only" in the 80's.  I'm definitely looking forward to that.

Last night I had the opportunity to "hang out" virtually with some very cool ladies over at the Kraafters Kommunity on Google +.  I don't have any friends locally to hang out with, so it was a delight to spend some time with creative ladies while we gabbed, shared tips and tricks, and created special "Thinking Of You" cards for some individuals facing personal challenges.  It's always refreshing to use my time, talent and supplies for a worthy cause.  I used to love being part of the card ministry at the church I used to attend.

I love stamping and card making techniques that are quick and simple but make it look like you did some amazing and terribly difficult things.  Triple Time Stamping is one of those.  I originally learned this technique from Dawn Olchefske's YouTube video here.  I make a lot of these cards and always love the results.

Here are the three cards I made last night.  While similar in style, each features something just a little bit different.  You may need to click and enlarge these collages to see some of the details.

This card features some fun twine and a popped up butterfly.  His antennae are colored with a silver atYou Spica pen and I use some clear glitter glue on the spots on his wings.

This sweet orange card is relatively flat, which makes mailing it a breeze.  I added some extra detail to the flowers on the front by tracing over them with my clear atYouSpica pen.  Special detail was given to the inside with a fun border bunch.  I love this sentiment:  "sending you warm fuzzies."

You can't go wrong with field flowers and butterflies, at least not in my book.  Beautiful turquoise and yellow combine with organza and grosgrain ribbons.  Of course, I had to add some glittery details to the butterflies.  One cannot have too much shimmer or glitter!

If you have some time, come on over to the Kraafter Kommunity and check it out.  It's filled with lovely, creative and friendly people who would be thrilled to have you join them.  Maybe we can craft together virtually one day!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

Birds or Keys??? / WOYWW 275

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!

It's that time when we take our voyeuristic trip around to fellow creative folks' desks.  It's all courtesy of the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground.  Be sure you pop over there and check it out.  It's super duper fun.

My desk isn't too terribly atrocious.  It's been cleaner, but it's been FAR messier also!

What you see here is my next little project that I intend to use some of that lovely mixed media steampunk inspired paper on.  Earrings!  Yep...paper and earrings.

There's also a package of some keyrings there.  I need to get busy beading a few of those to have ready for my first craft festival in October.  Still planning to do a total $5 for everything table, so I can't get too carried away with what I use on them.  Guess I'll have to keep hoarding my lovely Swarovskis.  Darn!

Haven't decided which charm to use - the birds or the keys.  I have friends voting for both.  To me, the keys are the obvious choice with the gears and whatnot on the paper.  However, I'm afraid they are going to be longer than the paper for the design I have in mind.  Not sure I will like that.  I guess I can always make a second pair, right?

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

Mixed Media - Project One

Happy Sunday Everyone!

I hope you are enjoying a lovely and relaxing weekend.  Hubby goes back to work and out of town tomorrow, so we are enjoying some quiet time with the paper and our Keurig this morning!  :)

As you've seen, I've been trying to create some things that can be considered mixed media.  I did get brave and cut up the 8.5 x 11 sheet of steampunk inspired goodness that I made last week.  My first project is a masculine birthday card.  It seems everyone struggles to come up with masculine stuff, so it's a bonus that the sheet I created kind of heads in that direction.

I tried to keep this card fairly flat so it could easily be mailed.  The only dimension to speak of is the wrapped baker's twine and I popped up the key with some foam pop dots.

I bought this stamp set (and one other like it) from a neighbor who was cleaning out her craft stash.  Since then, I've discovered that Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous has a whole line of these "blueprints" stamps.  I really like them.  I may have to invest in a few more.  Darn.

Some of you may have noticed that I use mostly all Stampin' Up! products and colors.  I used to be a demonstrator and I simply love their color line and products.  I just wish they'd quit making changes to the color line so the stuff I have isn't discontinued.  :(

Years ago, Stampin' Up! used to sell packs of mulberry papers that matched the color line.  I've been hoarding it for YEARS!  I broke out some that went with the "regals" theme and, in particular More Mustard, to use as a background for the key that I fussy cut.  From a distance, it kind of looks like light radiating out from behind it.  That was a cool accident!

Boring, but functional, interior.

What's next for the other pieces of the now famous 8.5 x 11 sheet?  Hmmm.....that's a good question.  I'm thinking maybe an altered small notebook/journal/smashbook/junk journal or whatever the heck you want to call it.  I just discovered these "junk journals" and apparently I'm behind on that trend.  Just like mixed media, everyone seems to have a different definition of what they are.  Perhaps a topic for another blog post!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

Mixed Media - Double Emboss Resist

Happy Friday Everyone!

On Wednesday, we chatted about what we thought mixed media was.  Those of you over on Google + may have seen some of my posts on what I've been creating.  Now that I've adjusted my mind to the definition of simply using multiple mediums on a project, I'm embracing the whole idea!

By the way, those of you interested in participating in the mixed media challenge this month at the Kraafter Kommunity on Google + should come on over and join in.

WARNING -- Photo heavy post from this point forward!  You've been warned!

I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to create, but I decided to work on a full 8.5 x 11 sheet.  That in itself is unusual for me, as I normally only work on card sized pieces.  This should give me a lot to work with on several projects.

Inking with Versa Mark on Neenah Solar White card stock

Clear embossing powder

Getting ready to heat emboss

Finished embossing

Preparing to add color

Adding ink in soft swirly motion.
I love how the images magically appear!

Finished with first color

Adding another layer of color

Getting ready to double emboss

Finished with second embossing.
 These images are more muted since they were embossed over color.

Adding more layers of color

Buffing any extra ink off the embossed areas.
 Don't skip this step, as it really makes your embossed images POP off the page.

Adding some "texture" by spritzing with water.

Detail after water spritz

Adding some partially stamped images in light and dark browns

Adding some subtle hints of white with a colored pencil

One of my favorite tools!  I use the gold, silver and clear all the time.

Just a hint of gold shimmer here and there

One last layer of "texture" with the air spritzer and marker

Close up of marker spritz detail

The finished product!

 I've already gotten brave and cut this item into some smaller pieces.  Since I've already overloaded you with photos today, be sure to come back later when I post the projects I'll be making with this lovely card stock art.  Can you believe I had someone want to buy it just like this?  Go figure!

If you have any questions about the products or techniques I used, please comment below and I'll be glad to answer you.
 


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!

In Search Of Mixed Media / WOYWW 274

WOYWW?  Huh?  If you're wondering what that means, it's a fun little thing we do each Wednesday courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground.  It's fun to run around the internet world and have a look-see at what everyone has cooking on their creative desks.  Be sure you check it out!

Here's how my craft table looks this morning.  This is pretty much exactly how I left it last night after creating a card for Heather Kraafter.  Silly me, I didn't even take a picture of it before I put it in the mail this morning.  You'll just have to take my word for it that it was cute!

That little stack of birthday cards you see laying there are getting ready to be sent to my mother.  She lives in Yuma, AZ, and she and her friends are well known for remembering each others' birthdays.  They go around their park in their golf carts (or walking) and leave cards and sometimes little gifts or flowers on the birthday person's front step.  It kind of reminds me of May Day when I was a kid and we'd make paper cones with flowers in them and leave them at the door of our neighbors.  But I digress.....  Mom asked me to send her an assortment of birthday cards for her friends.  I have a stack of ten ready for her, but some are blank on the inside so I'm getting ready to stamp a greeting in them before mailing them off to Arizona.  It gives me a perfect excuse to create more cards since I'm depleting my stash!!  Oh darn!

Now about that blog title -- In Search of Mixed Media.  What is mixed media?  Well, from what I've been told, it's very simply the process of creating something with a combination of different mediums.  I don't think of myself as a mixed media person, but with that definition in mind, sometimes I guess I am.  There are times in my card making where I'll use various markers (Copics and others), water color (either with ink or pencils), chalks, embossing and more.  So I guess that counts, right??  I think I need to embrace this mixed media concept more.

What's your take on mixed media?  How would you define it?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Crafting!